In a time before metal was known for flat-brimmed baseball caps, gym shorts and spin kicks, there were bands such as Priest, Maiden, Armored Saint and Dio who valued precision playing, killer vocals and a sense of lyrical mysticism and fantasy (as well as the occasional tale of epic partying). As often happens in this world, things come full-circle, and heavy metal is no exception. At the head of this new "wave" or revolution in metal is the Los Angeles quintet Holy Grail.

Originally known as Sorcerer, Holy Grail formed when three members of the band White Wizzard decided to go out on their own. The band is helmed by vocalist James Paul Luna, a native of Van Halen's hometown, Pasadena. A classically trained singer whose monster pipes have drawn comparisons to Sebastian Bach, Rob Halford and Ronnie James Dio, Luna was also recently heard providing vocals in a Gamestop commercial for the new video game, "Brutal Legend."

He's backed by virtuoso guitarists Eli Santana and James J. LaRue, whose interweaving shredding and riffing harkens to an imaginary time when Yngwie Malmsteen and Marty Friedman jammed together. Tyler Meahl and Blake Mount form the thunderous rhythm section whose power could shake the foundations of Valhalla itself. In the short few months since the band's inception, they've received a full-page feature in the L.A. Weekly, toured the Western U.S. and signed to Prosthetic Records, who released their debut EP, Improper Burial, in late 2009.

The CD version features two original tracks, "Immortal Man" and "Fight to Kill," alongside Accept and Judas Priest covers, while the vinyl version contains only the two original tracks. The artwork was done by the infamous Ed Repka (Megadeth, Death, Nuclear Assault). The band will tour throughout November with 3 Inches Of Blood and Saviours in support of the EP before they hit the studio with acclaimed producer Matt Hyde (Slayer, Kreator, Monster Magnet) to record their debut full-length, Crisis In Utopia, due out in 2010. Pick up Improper Burial now, and check out Holy Grail live in your town to witness the glory of timeless heavy metal today!
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(Source: AOL Music)